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Heathen: meaning, definitions and examples

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heathen

 

[ ˈhiː.ðən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

religion

A person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially one who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim) as regarded by those who do.

Synonyms

infidel, non-believer, pagan

Examples of usage

  • The missionaries tried to convert the heathens to Christianity.
  • The heathen beliefs of the indigenous tribes clashed with the colonizers' religion.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

A person regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened.

Synonyms

barbarian, savage, uncivilized person

Examples of usage

  • The heathens at the party were more interested in drinking than discussing philosophy.
  • The professor referred to the students who skipped his lectures as heathens.

Translations

Translations of the word "heathen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pagão

🇮🇳 अधर्मी

🇩🇪 Heide

🇮🇩 kafir

🇺🇦 язичник

🇵🇱 poganin

🇯🇵 異教徒

🇫🇷 païen

🇪🇸 pagano

🇹🇷 putperest

🇰🇷 이교도

🇸🇦 وثني

🇨🇿 pohan

🇸🇰 pohan

🇨🇳 异教徒

🇸🇮 pogan

🇮🇸 heiðingi

🇰🇿 пұтқа табынушы

🇬🇪 ურჯულო

🇦🇿 pütpərəst

🇲🇽 pagano

Etymology

The word 'heathen' originated from the Old English term 'hǣðen', meaning 'not Christian or Jewish', and was used to describe people who practiced polytheistic religions or were perceived as uncivilized. Over time, it acquired derogatory connotations due to its association with non-Christian beliefs. In contemporary usage, 'heathen' is often considered offensive and outdated, with 'pagan' or 'non-believer' preferred in more neutral contexts.

See also: heath, heather, heathland.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #9,589 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.